unfortunately, this is a book that i didn't get on well with but that is just due to personal reading tastes. i am not leaving a low review rating as the writing is incredible and immersive, and i know it will be loved by a lot of people!

I’m not going to lie I DNF’d this I just couldn’t get into this book it’s truly a me problem nothing to do with the book itself it was well written and intoxicating to read but I guess that’s just not what I want right now out of a book.

Beautiful writing, wrong time for me to read it.

I will pick the physical up in the hopes someday I’ll be in the right headspace to read it.

Compelling and easy to read; with some great twists and turns! Could be a little more developed but still a solid read.

I am always here for a good novel about toxic friendships and this one really delivered. Brilliantly written and very well paced. Dark, claustrophobic, with a hint of unhinged. Thumbs up from me!

Unfortunately, I really struggled with this one. Although I’m definitely not opposed to unlikeable characters, this group of friends were so insufferable it did make it hard to invest myself in the plot. I’ve seen a lot of reviews talking about the tension and twistedness of this book, but I found there was nothing shocking about it.

Nevertheless, I do think this book would appeal to lovers of Bunny by Mona Awad and The Secret History by Donna Tartt and they would probably get a lot more out of this reading experience than I did.

This was a brilliant book, what starts as a teenage obsession morphes into something even more dangerous! I was fascinated by it and would not hesitate to pick up another book by Heather.
I was intrigued from the start and the short chapters really kept it flowing well and fast! Definitely recommend

The story had an interesting premise however it was disjointed and very slow and I felt it difficult to relate to the characters.

A deeply unpleasant prologue which is significant, though it’s unclear how it connects to our story at first.
Our main character, Clare, is about to start at university in Edinburgh. She is desperate to make friends, but is determined that these friends should be right for her, the kinds of friends who convince her to be better. When she finds herself taken under the wing of some wealthy girls from her course she doesn’t question their overtures of friendship.
The opening of the book establishes the group dynamic and it felt as if things took a long time to get going. However, as the year progresses Clare finds herself caught up in a scheme - a project as Tabitha (the leader of the group) calls it.
As we follow them through the playing out of their plan, we see how potentially dangerous this could be. It’s hard not to feel for Clare, even though we know she has been responsible for some truly awful things. She is exploited by someone who knows her secrets, and who uses this knowledge for their own twisted purposes.
It was a book that felt rather unusually paced, with a somewhat abrupt ending and a lack of detail surrounding some of the events that became of such significance. It also seemed unlikely that Clare would have continued in her friendship with Ava in the way she chose to.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.

I was definitely drawn in by the cover of this book, and that it is being sold as having shades of The Secret History and Promising Young Woman, but this was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the overall story of Clare as a bit of an outsider of a protagonist, hoping to worm her way in to the 'inner circle' as she perceives this friendship group to be at uni, but I wasn't a massive fan of the way that her former life, all the hints and eventual reveal, was integrated into the narrative. It seemed as though Darwent was attempting to portray Clare as two things at once that I don't think necessarily went well together - the outsider and the dark secret of Clare's past that is attempted to be hidden from the reader, when in reality most of the twists were predictable. I also think the whole 'honey trap' business plot would have been better served with a more naive protagonist. Overall this was well-written but the plot left me wanting more at times.

From the synopsis, I was very excited going into this one. However, it wasn't what I expected!
I didn't really like any of the characters, they we're very toxic. The story progressed too slowly for me and overall fell a bit flat.
I can see why people would love this, and there are some great reviews out there, but it just wasn't for me.

The Things We Do To Our Friends is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Things We Do To Our Friends asap.

A millennial take on a man trapping trope, with added levels of complex friendships and layers of past mystery. I am not a thriller reader in general and didn't know this was a thriller, well until I saw the genre on GR, maybe because disturbing books are my everyday by this point.

For me this is a brilliant contemporary literary exploration of many layered friendships between already dark and disturbed characters, and the plot allows for those relationships to really be explored.

If you want a fast paced thriller, I'm not convinced this is 100% that, but I also don't think its trying to be. If you want something a bit deeper and more thought through, but not necessarily with shocking twists, this is the perfect book.

Intellectual intrigue.
Love these stories that take place at universities, the lifestyle and attitudes.
Clare joins university at Edinburgh, she seems to be a quiet anonymous person in a flat share with two equally unassuming girls. This all changes when she gets a job in a cocktail bar and meets another group, Tabitha, Ava, Imogen and Samuel. This group of attractive and seemingly well off students, claim Clare and involve her in their.plots and money making schemes. The dynamics inside the group is constantly changing, Clare is desperate to fit in and overcome her mysterious past, her involvement with Finn, the bar owner helps to keep her grounded.
Playing with other peoples lives can end tragically.

Female university friendships morphing into something more sinister and predatory, The Things We Do To Friends is a propulsive and compelling page-turner, I was keen to see how the story developed and where the author would take us

The Things We Do To Our Friends is a thought-provoking and nuanced exploration of the complex dynamics of female friendship. The book follows the relationships between three friends – Daphne, Ruth, and Zara – as they navigate the ups and downs of their lives and their friendship with each other.

One of the strengths of the book is its well-drawn and relatable characters. Daphne, Ruth, and Zara are all flawed and complicated individuals, with their own insecurities and desires. Darwent does an excellent job of exploring the nuances of their relationships with each other, capturing the sometimes-awkward and sometimes-intense dynamics of female friendship.

Another positive aspect of the book is its exploration of themes such as jealousy, betrayal, and forgiveness. Darwent doesn't shy away from the difficult emotions that can arise in any friendship, and she handles these topics with sensitivity and depth. The story offers a rich and multifaceted exploration of the complexities of human relationships.

Some readers may find the pacing of the book to be somewhat slow, particularly in the first half of the story. While the character development is strong, the plot itself may not move quickly enough for some readers. The structure - which shifts between perspectives - allows for a more complex exploration of the characters and their relationships, but it may not be to everyone's taste. I love this format, so I really enjoyed it.

Overall, The Things We Do To Our Friends is a well-written and engaging book that offers a nuanced exploration of the complexities of female friendship. While it may not be the most fast-paced or straightforward story, its well-drawn characters and exploration of difficult emotions make it a worthwhile read for fans of contemporary fiction.

This story is based on Clare who moves to Edinburgh in order to create a new life for herself. Everything seems to be going well initially as she manages to bag herself a job in a bar, attend her lectures etc. until one day she meets and becomes enamoured with Tabitha and her friends.
I feel like this book was written beautifully and the author managed to capture the dark academia vibes perfectly, especially with the atmosphere she tried to create. The book was full of shocking twists and weird events but I especially loved how it all came together at the end. All in all, this book is perfect for any reader who likes exploring toxic friendships in a dark academia setting.

A gorgeously dark novel. I loved every second of it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.

I loved this! What a debut!

This is proper dark academia and the parallels and influence of The Secret History were trailed throughout the novel, but it was also very much it’s own novel. From the Edinburgh settings, the twists, the psychological element, the secrets, and the toxic relationships - SO much fun to read, and such a clever novel. Easily one of my favourites books of the year so far, and of the podcast.

A fun, twisted, engaging tale about Clare, a young woman with a secretive past who seeks a fresh start in Edinburgh.....and gets entangled with a rich, enigmatic friend group with secrets of their own.

I found this very readable and flew through it in a couple of sittings, as it reminded me of a more accessible and much less deranged "Bunny" by Mona Awad. A highlight was the atmospheric writing, which vividly sets the scene in Edinburgh and the beautiful, elegant lives of Clare's wealthy friends. I also enjoyed the second half of the book much more, when the buildup of events finally starts to pay off.

However, personally, the book did not go to nearly the dark and disturbing lengths I expected. I wanted more of the vibes in the "France" prologue, and it just did not feature again. The characterisation of Ava, Imogen and Samuel also felt surface-level in comparison to Clare and Tabitha, and I felt that there was too much "telling" and not enough "showing" their personalities.

Overall, a worthwhile read for those who enjoy thrillers, toxic friendships, and elite settings. As always, thanks very much to Penguin General and Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow!! Just wow!! I’m speechless and that doesn’t happen very often.This is just completely addictive and impossible to put down.